You're Different Now
by G. Craig Lauterbach, January 2005
When you were born again, you made the most important decision that was, or ever will be made in your natural lifetime. By choosing to commit your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, you transferred your spiritual citizenship from one kingdom to another. You may be asking yourself, "What is he talking about?" It’s simple, YOU'RE DIFFERENT NOW! To help you better understand this, sit down, get comfortable, and with the assistance of your Bible, let's study this together.
First, the Bible teaches all people are born sinners. Committing sin does not make someone a sinner. This is an important principle to realize. Many think if they can keep themselves from making a mistake, then they are a good person and thus not a sinner. This is not true according to God's Word the Bible. In Genesis 3, we read how Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. Because of this, they opened the door for sin to indwell their body, soul, and spirit. When this happened, they died spiritually and moved from the protection and authority of God's righteous kingdom, to the bondage and slavery of Satan's kingdom of sin. From that time forward, sin has been passed on through the seed of man from generation to generation. Sin is hereditary! Just as the color of your hair, eyes, intellectual ability, athletic talents, and other gifts and physical attributes are passed on through your biological parents, so it is with sin. This is why people sin. It is inevitable. Because all people are born sinners, they eventually wind up committing sin. Just as a bird was born to fly, a fish to swim, and a horse to run, so people were born to sin. It is within every man, woman, boy, and girl.
Secondly, because God knew people are born with this spiritual condition, He found it necessary to send His only Son in the form of a man to take the penalty of Adam and Eve (John 3:16,17). This penalty is spiritual death and spiritual bondage to the kingdom of sin and Satan (Romans 6:23). Since Jesus Christ (God's Son) was not conceived by the seed of a man, but through the Word of God, sin was not passed on to Him. This is why the virgin birth was imperative. Mary’s immaculate conception was proof that Jesus was not indwelt by sin and considered perfect in the eyes of God. He was born without sin, lived a sinless life, and died in this same sinless condition. When He was crucified, an innocent man died in place of Adam, Eve, and every other person born from the beginning until the end of time. This means the spiritual sentence you are guilty of was satisfied by God the Father through Jesus. Jesus Christ set you free from all of your failures, fears, weaknesses, and struggles the moment you confessed Him as your Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9,10). The price was paid in full. The sentence has been satisfied. YOU’RE DIFFERENT NOW!
Thirdly, since you are different now, it is important to understand what this difference is. Before you knew the Lord, you were just like Adam our first spiritual father, spiritually dead and a slave to sin and Satan. By committing your life to Jesus Christ, you changed masters. You moved from one kingdom of authority to another. You are now a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. This means all of the legal rights of heaven are now your legal rights. Another dimension to take notice of is, these rights are EQUAL RIGHTS! Because you are now in Christ, all that is true of Jesus is now true of you. That’s right! 2 Corinthians 5:17 states the old (Adam) is gone and the new (Jesus) has come. You are a brand new creation. YOU’RE DIFFERENT NOW!
Fourthly, in order to live out this new life, certain spiritual disciplines need to be practiced. Paul says the way you change from the old lifestyle to the new lifestyle is by renewing your mind. Take a moment to find and read the following Bible verse (Romans 12:1,2). As a new Christian, how can you renew your mind? Here are three things I want you to put into practice.
1. Read your Bible daily. Start with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. I encourage people to commit to at least one chapter a day. As you read scripture on a daily basis, you are reprogramming the way you think. God's Word will instruct you as to what you should and shouldn't do. His Word will bring comfort, encouragement, and confidence in your spiritual life. His Word will help you recognize when the Lord is speaking and when a voice contrary to His is.
2. Take time to pray daily. Many people don't pray because they do not understand what prayer really is. Simply put, prayer is having a conversation with God. Allow the Lord to become your new best friend. What do best friends do? They talk to each other. Share your joy, sorrow, frustrations, and victories with the Lord. I use the following word to describe how I look at prayer, JOY.
J for Jesus. Start out your prayer time praising Jesus. Let Him know how much you love Him. After spending time in praise, you move to the next letter.
O for Others. Pray for the needs of others. For their salvation, healing, provision, peace of heart and mind, and whatever other needs they may be facing. Finally you come to the last letter.
Y for You. God is interested in your needs. It is not wrong to pray for your own personal needs. God cares for you. As you pray for your personal needs, the Holy Spirit will release a great peace that He is working on your behalf. After prayer, the third thing you need to do is . . .
3. Attend church regularly. God has ordained the ministry of the local church. Through the preaching and teaching of the Word, we grow into spiritual men and women of God. If you neglect this ministry, your spiritual growth will be hindered. You also build relationships with people when you get involved in a local church. Everyone needs friends, and as a Christian, you need new Christian friends. Friends who will encourage you in the Lord, who will laugh with you, cry with you, stand with you, and hold you accountable.
In closing I want to tell you, YOU’RE DIFFERENT NOW!
